Welcome Winter and Happy Yule!

[MauEvig]

Today is the day of Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the longest night. It is the first day of winter and the season of snow and frost. From now on the days will start to get longer. For some, this is a blessed time of the year.

Today is also the day of Yule! For those of you who celebrate it, I would like to wish them a very Happy and Blessed Yule! I hope that the Winter Solstice brings you blessings through the winter season and throughout the year. Let us also welcome the rebirth of the sun and daylight. ^^

[Andybev01]

Amen to that.

[Murfreesboro]

Interesting. So Yule is a specific day, the winter solstice? I never knew that. I always thought it was a season. That they burned a log for so long, or something.

I was born at this time of year. Today (22nd) is my birthday. I love the winter solstice, and the whole Christmas season.

[Boogeyman]

Happy Birthday Murf.

[Andybev01]

Happy Murfday!

[MauEvig]

Yes I think so, at least that's what I heard that Yule is celebrated on the day of the Winter Solstice.

Also a Happy Birthday to you Murf! I hope it was a great one!

[Murfreesboro]

Thanks, everybody. Andy, you are too funny!

It was a good birthday. I was healthy and surrounded by people who love me, so it was a good day.

[Andybev01]

I went to the beach today and took the edge off of the short days.

It was about 60 with little breeze to speak of.

On the way out of the area we stopped at a road side mechanic shed that I've passed a thousand times, for a photo with their logo.

[MauEvig]

Is that you Andy?

Pretty cool that there are still Pumpkins out and about this time of year. Makes me wonder what next year's Halloween shall be like...

[Andybev01]

Yes it's me.

This section of the California coast is famous for pumpkins and a lot of businesses use them in their ads and logos all year long.

A few miles north is Half Moon Bay, home of one of Americas oldest pumpkin festivals.

[Murfreesboro]

Sounds like you had a nice day!

So far it hasn't been very cold here, but it rained a lot on Christmas Eve and again yesterday. I don't mind, really; it just is what it is. I'd rather have snow, though.

[MauEvig]

Same here Murf, lots of rain. No snow. We had one little snow fall earlier this year but it came and went faster than you can blink. I would have liked a nice white Christmas though. But now that Christmas is over, I don't want any snow at all.

That sounds awesome Andy! I'd love to go to a Pumpkin Festival.

[Murfreesboro]

You have a fairly good shot at a white Christmas up in Virginia. We used to see them up there. Here it is very, very rare. We did get one in 2010, though, and it came in the most Christmassy way. I had been so busy I had paid zero attention to the weather report, so I had had no idea of snow. My older son and I went to the midnight service on Christmas Eve (starting with music at 10:30), and when we left the church shortly after midnight, it was snowing, and had been snowing long enough that everything was white. It really did look like a little Christmas miracle.

[Kolchak]

Interesting. So Yule is a specific day, the winter solstice? I never knew that. I always thought it was a season. That they burned a log for so long, or something.

I was born at this time of year. Today (22nd) is my birthday. I love the winter solstice, and the whole Christmas season.

Cumpleanos Feliz!(belated)

[Murfreesboro]

Gracias!